Tuscany is a region in central Tuscany is a region in central Italy, its capital is FlorenceItaly, its capital is Florence

It is famous for its landscapes It is famous for its landscapes and artistic history and artistic history

The earliest iron age culture in central The earliest iron age culture in central and northern Italy was the Vinnovian and northern Italy was the Vinnovian CultureCulture

It originated in the Eastern Alps and It originated in the Eastern Alps and occupied the region of modern day occupied the region of modern day Tuscany in 1100-7700 BCTuscany in 1100-7700 BC

Tuscany was named for Tuscany was named for the Etruscan culture the Etruscan culture that followed the that followed the VinnoviansVinnovians

Whether the Etruscan Whether the Etruscan civilization preceded the civilization preceded the Vinnovian is unknownVinnovian is unknown

DNA studies on cattle DNA studies on cattle and the modern Tuscan and the modern Tuscan population suggest that population suggest that the Etruscans probably the Etruscans probably came from the Middle came from the Middle East and overtook the East and overtook the VinnoviansVinnovians

The Etruscans were an advanced civilization

They had roads, agriculture and art

Their territory was diminished by the civilizations around them

Originally the Romans were ruled by the Etruscans, but the Etruscan culture was gradually absorbed into the Roman culture by the first century

The Romans built the cities of The Romans built the cities of Florence, Pisa, Siena, and LuccaFlorence, Pisa, Siena, and Lucca

They defended the area and there They defended the area and there was peace in Tuscany for 500 yearswas peace in Tuscany for 500 years

They extended the roads and built They extended the roads and built sewers, aqueducts, and many sewers, aqueducts, and many buildingsbuildings

The Roman Empire ended The Roman Empire ended in the 5in the 5thth century and century and Tuscany was taken over by Tuscany was taken over by the Longobards, a the Longobards, a Germanic people from Germanic people from northern Europenorthern Europe

During the Medieval and During the Medieval and Renaissance periods the Renaissance periods the land was ruled by the Holy land was ruled by the Holy Roman Empire and Tuscany Roman Empire and Tuscany was the birthplace of the was the birthplace of the Renaissance MovementRenaissance Movement

When Napoleon When Napoleon ended the Holy ended the Holy Roman Empire in the Roman Empire in the 1717thth Century, he gave Century, he gave Tuscany to the Tuscany to the Austrian EmpireAustrian Empire

The Austrian Empire The Austrian Empire ruled until the Italian ruled until the Italian Wars of Wars of Independence in the Independence in the 1850s when Tuscany 1850s when Tuscany became part of the became part of the newly formed newly formed Republic of ItalyRepublic of Italy

Tuscany is hilly and mountainous, with an abundance of fertile soil and valleys

The coastal strip of Tuscany has farmland, sandy beaches, and woodlands

Tuscany has the Apennine mountain ranges in the North and East where marble is quarried, and iron is mined in mountains in the south

Weather in Tuscany is generally mild The coasts and valleys are warmer and get more rain

then than the hills and mountains Summers are warm and mostly rainless, reaching

highs of 86 Fahrenheit Winters are mild in the day, but can get cold at night,

with lows of 38 Fahrenheit

Products of Tuscany are cereal, olives, tobacco, livestock, grapes, AND WORLD FAMOUS WINE

other industries are textiles, metal products, chemicals, machinery, instruments, glass, petroleum, and fertilizer

Tourism is a large part of the economy, drawing tourists for its wine, history, art, dining, and sightseeing

Tuscany is composed of 10 provinces Tuscany is composed of 10 provinces totaling 22,990 kmtotaling 22,990 km²²

The total population of Tuscany is 3.6 millionThe total population of Tuscany is 3.6 million

There are 156 people per square kilometer There are 156 people per square kilometer of landof land

Florence is the most densely populated city, Florence is the most densely populated city, with 366,901 residentswith 366,901 residents

In 1870, many Italians In 1870, many Italians started coming to the started coming to the USUS

They came looking to They came looking to avoid high taxes and avoid high taxes and get better wages, and get better wages, and to escape overcrowdingto escape overcrowding

Most Italian immigrants Most Italian immigrants from that time were from that time were males from rural males from rural communities with communities with limited educationslimited educations

Between 1820-1920 over 4 million Italians immigrated to the US

They mainly worked long hours for low wages at unskilled industrial jobs in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Detroit

In the 1930’s, Italians came here to escape the fascist rule of Mussolini

By the second world war there were more Italians living in New York city than in Rome

In 2006, 6% of the US population has Italian ancestry

Italian Americans have a Italian Americans have a higher high school higher high school graduation rate than the graduation rate than the national averagenational average

They have a higher or equal They have a higher or equal rate of advanced degrees rate of advanced degrees than the averagethan the average

They are occupied in a wide They are occupied in a wide range of job fields, including range of job fields, including skilled trades, arts, sciences, skilled trades, arts, sciences, and everything in betweenand everything in between

The dark blue on the map indicates high The dark blue on the map indicates high populations of Italianspopulations of Italians

Over 3 million Italians live in NYOver 3 million Italians live in NY 1.5 million live in NJ and PA1.5 million live in NJ and PA

1 million live in CA, FL, and MA1 million live in CA, FL, and MA

Most Italian children Most Italian children attend non-attend non-compulsory nursery compulsory nursery school for 3 years school for 3 years before entering before entering primary schoolprimary school

Primary school is Primary school is required for ages 6-required for ages 6-1111

Middle school or Middle school or Medie Inferiori is Medie Inferiori is required for ages 11-required for ages 11-14 14

There are two kinds of secondary There are two kinds of secondary school, or Medie Superiori school, or Medie Superiori

Professional secondary schools are for Professional secondary schools are for more practical learning in preparation more practical learning in preparation for entering the workforcefor entering the workforce

Liceo, or technical schools, are further Liceo, or technical schools, are further divided into art, science, language, divided into art, science, language, and theoretical specialties, and are and theoretical specialties, and are necessary before going to a universitynecessary before going to a university

Most Italian universities are public and Most Italian universities are public and offer 3 and 5 year degreesoffer 3 and 5 year degrees

Currently 4 percent of Currently 4 percent of Italy’s highly educated Italy’s highly educated young people leave the young people leave the country after country after completing their completing their education while Italy education while Italy receives immigrants receives immigrants with lower education with lower education levelslevels

Tuscany is a beautiful Tuscany is a beautiful place, but it is part of place, but it is part of an aging society whose an aging society whose future may not be as future may not be as bright as its pastbright as its past

“Weather and Climate in Tuscany” retrieved 5/24/08 from http://toscana.de/reiseinformationen/wette r.php

“Tuscany” from the Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition 2008 retrieved 5/24/08 from http://encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Tuscany.html

“Tuscany” retrieved 5/24/08 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuscany

“Italian Immigration” retrieved 5/24/08 from http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/US

A.Eitaly.htm

Hugh, Eduard “Italy’s Economic Problems Under the Spotlight” retrieved

5/24/08 from http://www.afistfulofeuros.net